Australia Council Submission to the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Inquiry into the role of creativity in the innovation economy

Focuses on the role of the arts in building a more innovative economy.

The Australia Council for the Arts' submission was an excellent opportunity to highlight the increasingly strategic importance of multi-disciplinary approaches to science and innovation, and the important benefits to industry flowing from enhanced support for creativity.

As the Australian Government's principle arts funding and advisory body with a history of success in supporting artists working at the intersections science and technology, the Australia Council for the Arts is well placed to advise on priority measures needed to enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Key recommendations

In recognition of the increasingly strategic value of creativity to Australia's innovation economy, the Australia Council for the Arts recommends the need for a coordinated, 'whole of government' approach to government investment in creativity and innovation.

To progress this, the Australia Council for the Arts has developed a Creative Catalyst strategy that includes practical recommendations toward increasing coordination across government agencies, supporting the innovation value chain of developing creative thinkers and ideas, through to supporting pathways to commercialisation.

The key elements of the Creative Catalyst strategy are new or enhanced mechanisms to promote:

Arts and education in schools

Cross-disciplinary research in tertiary institutions and industry

International exchange of top creative thinkers and practitioners

Innovation and commercialisation among creative enterprises.

Background on PMSEIC

The Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) is the Australian Government's principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation.

The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes in its membership nine senior government ministers. It meets in full session twice each year to receive presentations on major national issues in science, engineering and innovation.